Fruit-pitting apparatus



FRUI T PI TTING APPARATUS original Filed oct; 3o', 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l www 4 Dec. 16, 1930. A. R. THOMPSON 1,785,018'

FRUIT FITTING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 50, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll Il De c. 16, 1930. A. R. THOMPSONv FRUIT FITTING APPARATUS Original Filed'Ot. 30, 1926- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m e m ...I0

`liatentecl Dec. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE: j

ALBERT R. THOMPSON, SAN vJOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO FACIFIC MACHINERY COIPANYLOF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA FRUIT-FITTING APPARATUS Application led October 30, 1926, Serial No` 145,160, Renewed-Hay 20, 1980.v

This invention relates, to fruit pitting ap'- paratus, and is more particularly related to an apparatus for pitting clingstone peaches, in `which there is provided means for lshifting the pit during the actuation of a rotary pittin means so that the pitting means will pass c ose to the pit of the' fruit Without cuti ting deep into the pulp of the fruit but so that the pitting means will pass over the fins of the pit without cuttin the same.

In the pitting of ruit, and particularly clings'tone peaches, it is essential thatv great care be taken to make a clean cut around the pit, close to the pit, without cutting away any portion of the pit; or any portion of the laterally projecting fins which extend outward from the pit. The cut must not be too deep into the pulp of the fruit-to remove too great a portion thereof, but the,cut must be deep enough to 'remove all of the red center around the pit. The cut must be sov as to leave as much depth as possible to the halves of the fruit to avoid the formation of shells lwhich break down in cooking and to avoid the formation -of ribbons when canning sliced fruit.

In fruit, and particularly in clingstone peaches, it is a well known fact that the pits vary in size over a relatively large range and that the ratio of the size of the pit to the size of the fruit is not constant. It is. also a known fact that the thickness Vof a pit, particularly in clingstone peaches, is fairly lco'nstant, irrespective of the width of the pit or the size of the fruit.

A A pit has three maximum dimensions which are known in the trade as the length, widthand thickness, and in this specification, the termfdepth, or depth of the cut of the rotary knife, is'used to designate the depth of the cut formed by the rotary knife in each half of the fruit pulp or flesh around 'the shortest of Vthese maximum dimensions or the thickness of the pit.

In fruit pitting machines or devices, if a knife is used which is of large enough cutting radius to pass over and around all fins and edges of the thickness and width of the pit, there will be formed in the halves of the fruit cuts which are too deep, thereby forming shells or ribbons depending on the use to which the pitted fruit is put-to, and

the weight of fruit boughtby the Canneryor the' like.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a fruit pitting apparatus comprising means for halving the flesh of the fruit, a rotary pitting knife, and means for shifting or reciprocatmg the fruit pit so as to permit the said knife to pass around the it close thereto, and to pass over the fins o the pit irrespective of the size of the pit.v

Another object of this invention is toprovide a fruit pitting apparatus comprising means for cutting a fruit annularly'to gain access to the pit, a curved pitting knife, and which curved pitting knife has a cutting radius to form a cut in the halves of the fruit ofpa desired depth irrespective of the width of the pit, and means to shift the pit V'so as to allow the said knife to pass freely around the pit. v p Another object of this inventionis to provide a fruit pitting apparatus including a than the ,width of the pit, and'means adapted to reciprocate the pit of the fruit to allow the knife to pass around the edges or ns of the pit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a.fruit pitting apparatus including a curved rotary pitting knife having a cutting range slightly in lexcess of the thickness of the lpit so as to clear the pit at this maximum thickness and form a cut to remove the red center and means adapted to enter the cut of the fruit and shift or reciprocate the pit in the plane of the cut so as to move the pit vto positions which will allow the knife to pass around and clear the saidv pit and edges and fins thereof a sufficient distance to insure the formation of a clean cut and the removal of all red center surrounding the pit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fruit pitting device having a curved pitting knife and means adapted to contact the pit and shift or reciprocate the pit during the operation of the pitting knife so as vto permit or allow the'pitting knife to cut site side to slide the said pit and finsthereof within the cutting radius of the said pitting knife.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly broken away of a fruit pitting apparatus embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional top plan View taken substantiallyon the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmental sectional side elevation taken partially on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an inverted plan view of one of the gear segments embodied in this invention, illustrating one cam surface.

Figure 6 is an inverted plan view of an arc segment embodied in this invention illustrating the second camvsurface. Figure 7 is a sectional end elevation taken substantiallyV on the line 7-7 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a sectional end elevation taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

In the preferred embodiment of this inven.- tion illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a base which may be of any desired form and which is secured toa stand or table 2 byany suitable means, such as the screws 3.

Formed' preferably integral with the base 1 is a web.4, which web 4 is formed to provvide an impaling blade 5 upon which the flesh of the fruit is cut annularly to the depth o'f the pit. The impaling blade 5 is slotted as at 6 and the slot 6 terminates in a pit receiving recess 7. The edges of the impaling blade are sharpened to provide cutting edges 8, 9 and 10 for severing the flesh of the fruit.

In impaling the fruit on the impaling blade 5, the fruit is gripped in the hand and is pushed over the impaling blade so that the fruit flesh is cut to form halves in thev central plane of the pit. The fruit is turned during the impaling operation so that the'pit will move into the pit'receiving recess 7 with its greatest maximum diameter or the length of the pit Vtransverse to the slot 6.

Means are providedl in the pit receiving recess 7 for cutting the flesh of the fruit to free the pit from the cut halves, which means are preferably of the following construction:

Formed on the base 1 and web 4 are cylindrical bosses which provide bearings for an operating shaft 11.' The shaft 11 passes through collars 12 and 13 formed on the gear segments14 and 15, respectively. The gear segments 14 and 15 are journaled on the shaft 11. Formed on theweb 4 is a cylindrical boss 16. Formed on the base 1 in alinement with the cylindrical boss 16 is a boss 17. Fitted in the bosses 16 and 17 are bushings 18 and 19 respectively. The' bushings 18 and 19 are preferably formed integral with pinions 20 and 21' which mesh with the gear segments 14 and 15. A curved pitting knife 22 is formed integral with two laterally extending shafts 23 and 24 which extend through slots formed in the impaling blade 5 and through the bushings 18 and 19, and are secured to the bushings lin any suitable or desirable manner to allow the withdrawal of the pitting knife to replace or repair the same. An operating lever 25 is se cured to the shaft 11i, at a split collar 26.

The collar 26 may be keyed to the shaft 11 to permit the correct positioning thereof and locked on the said shaft b a bolt 27.

The curved pitting kni e 22 has a cutting diameter slightly in excess of the thickness of a fruit pit but this cutting diameter yor diamete of rotation is less than the width of a peach pit so that if the pit and knife remained stationary, the said rotary knife would not pass around the pit but would cut into the same.

In order to avoid this cutting of the fruit pit or the fins which extend laterally outward from the pit without necessitating the .increase of cutting diameter of the said knife, means are provided for shiftin the pit during the rotation of the pittin nife so as to move the pit to clear the said nife and cause the same to pass into and through the flesh of the fruit a sufficient distance to cut away the red center of the fruit around the pit.

For the purpose of shifting the pit free of the said knife, I prefer to form the impaling blade with two opposed moving portions 28 and 29 which enter the cut formed in the flesh of the fruit along the line of this cut and alternately engage the opposite sides of the pit to shift the pit to a position free of the curved cutting knife in advance of the rotation of the said knife. lThe rotation of the knife and actuation of the engaging portions 28and 29 of theimpaling blade are timed so as to enable the said pit to be shifted as desired. The size of the pit of the fruit will be immaterial to the operation of this shifting means as the larger the particular pit and fin thereof happens to be in aniIT particular case, the further the same wiil be shifted by the impaling blade portions 2S and 29 to clear the cutting knife. If the pit' is small or of a narrow width, the' impaling blade portions 28 and 29 may fail to move the same at all or. will only shift the pit a slight distance in time with the rotation of the itting knife.

T e im aling blade portion 28 is pivotally supporte at a .pin 30 which is passed through bosses 31 formed on the web- 4. Mounted on a pin 32, which is `sc'rewthreaded to an extension of the movable impaling blade portion 28, is a cam ro1bler33. The cam roller 33 engages 'and'rolls on a cam surface 34 which is formed preferably integral with .the gear segment 14.

The impaling blade portion `29 is pivotally supported at a pin 35 which passes through a bore formed in an extension arm 36 of the portion 29 and also through bosses 37 forme in spaced relation on the web 4.

fThe impaling blade portion .29 is provided withthe sharpened edges 9 and 10 as heretofore described and is also moved to complete the pit receiving recess 7 after the pit of. the

4 fruit has been positioned therein, the curved edge38 thereof being moved into position to complete the curved edge 39 of this recess so as to hold the pit from all points during the cutting of the same free from the iesh of the fruit.

Mounted on a pin 40 which is screw-thread- I ed into a yoke extension ofthe arm 36 is a cam roller 41, which cam roller 41 rides on a cam surface 42 formed on an arc segment 43. The segment 42 is provided with an integral collar 44 throughwhich the shaft 11 extends. The collar 44 issecured to the shaft 11 by any 'suitable means, such as a key.

Means are provided `for gripping and holding the fruit on the impaling blade during the pitting operation which means are preferably constructed as follows:

An arm extension 45 is formed integral with or secured to the collar 26 and supports f at its outer end a`slide 46. The slide 46 1s 4pivotally supported at the end of the arm 45, as illustrated at 47. A rod 47 passes through the slide 46 and is provided with a stop collar 48 Whichmay be secured in ad'usted position by means ofv a set `screw 49.` nterposed between washers 50 and 51 is a compression spring 52 which yieldably urges the rod 47 outward until the stop 48 engages the end of the slide 46. A nut 53 is screw-threaded to the end of the rod 47 and permits adjustment of the springvtension, on the spring 52. The opposite end ofthe rod 47- passes through an ear 54 which may be formed integral with the collar 55. The collar 55 is.journalledon a shaft" 56 which passes through and is secured in position within bosses 57 and 58 formedon the web 4 and base 1, respectively. An arm.59 is also formed integral with the collar 55 and pivotally supportedat the end of the 4arm 59 on a pin `6() is a fruitengaging v'throu'ghfan elongated slot 62 and holding cup 61.y Thepin. 60 passesarm 59 s` as to permit the cup 61 to movein accordance with the shifting of the fruit pit formed -in the so that the flesh ofthe fruit may move with the pit. Should the fruit not be permitted to move with lthe pit, the knife l22 would not operate to form the` desired cut aroundthe pit and remove the red center and also the moving of the pit without moving the'flesh of the fruit would result in damaging the flesh of the fruit.

Means are provided for actuating the pitting knife 22 and the impaling blade portions 28 and 29 in timed relation with the actuation of the cup 61, whichmeans are preferably of the following construction:

Secured to the shaft 11 atcollars 63 are tion connection is provided between the actuation of the cup 61 and the gear segments 14 and 15. The cup 61 is engaged with the fruit to hold the same on the impaling blade before the gear segments are actuated to rotate the knife 22.

. Ihe spring 52 yieldably holds the cup 6l in engagement with the fruit and permits the said cup to hold fruitof varient sizes steady on the impaling blade 5. The stop 48 is for the purpose of maintaining tension in the spring 52.

A spring 67 is provided for engaging Vand holding ya cap 68 in position to secure the shaft 23 of the knife 22 to the bushing 18. The cap 69 'of the shaft 24 is held in the same way by a spring 74 secured to the sides of the.'

tion to engage and hold the fruit and is yieldable to allow the position of the cap 61 to 4vary in accordance with the surface contourV of the fruit. v

lThe operation of the fruit pitting apparatus embodying this invention is:

The operator first takes the fruit in his hand and mpales the' same on the impaling bladev 5 sothat the pitV of the fruit passes through'the slot A6. The fruit is then rotated to position the pit in the pit receiving recess 7. -This rotation of the fruit likewise completes the cutting in half of the esh of the fruit. The operator then gripsvthe handle 25 and rotates the s'ame to rotate the shaft 11.

The rotation of the'shaft 11 first brings the Figure lat the start of the pitting operashift the pit free of the path of the knife l 22 and then moves back to allow the knife 22 to pass freely around the edge and fin of the fruit pit. On starting of the rotation of the gear segments 15, the roller 41 passes upon the cam surface 42 to bring the impaling blade portion 29 into position to complete the curve 39 of the pit receiving recess 7. On continued rotation and after the knife has started to rotate and has passed the back to pass around the pit.

edge of the pit, the cam roller 33 rides up onto the raised portion 71 of the cam surface 34 and the cam roller 41 rides up toward the raised edge of the cam surface 42 so that the impaling blade portions are moved in a direction opposed to thatof the travel of the knife 22. The ilnpaling blade portion 28 moves away from the pit as 4the portion 29 engages the pitand causes the same to follow the movement of the portion 28. This motion continues until the cam roller 41 passes over the peak 72 of the cam surface 42 at which time the fruit pit has been moved clear of the knife 22 and then the cam roller 41, passing off the peak 72, carries the impaling blade' portion 29 back away from the pit allowing the knife to pass the edge and fin of the fruit. The cam surfaces are then completed to move the impalingblade portions 28 and 29 back to the starting position.

Having fully described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that'I do not wish to be limited to the exact details herein set forth which .may obviously be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fruit pitter comprising meansv for lialving the flesh of the fruit, a rotary pitting knife having a cutting radius adapted to produce a predetermined depth of cut in the fruit iesh irrespective of they width of the pit, means for rotating the Vsaid knife, and means to shift the pit during the rotation of the said knife to permit the knife 2. A fruit pitter comprising means for halving the flesh of the fruit, a rotary pitting knife having a cutting diameter adapted to produce a predetermined depth of cut in the fruit flesh irrespective of the width of the pit, means for rotating the saidknife, 'and' means for alternately contacting the pit from opposite sides to shift the pit within the cutting diameter of the pitting knife.

3. A Afruit pitter comprising means for halving the iesh of the fruit, a rotary pitting knife having a cutting diameter greater than the thickness of the pit but less than the width of the pit, means for rotating the said knife, and means to shift the pit durin the rotation of the said knife to permit the ife to pass around the pit.

4. A fruit pitter comprising means for halving the esh of the fruit, a rotary pitting knife having a cutting diameter greater than the thickness of the pit but less than the width of the pit of the fruit, means for rotating the said knife, and means to alternately con- 6. In a fruit pitting machine, the combi-l nation of means for cutting fruit annularly. to gain access to the pit, a curved pitting knife for pitting the fruit, said knife having a cutting diameter adapted to cut the depth of the pit but less than the width of the pit, and means adapted to reciprocate the pit in the line of the annular cut to permit the knife to pass around the pit.

7. In a fruit pitter, the combination of impaling means, pitting means having a cutting edge, means for actuating the said pit# ting means, and means for reciprocating the fruit in advance of the said-cuttlng edge during the actuation of the said pitting means.

8. In a fruit pitting apparatus, the combination of meansfor halving fruit in the plane of the greatest diameter of the pit of the fruit, a single pitting knife having its axis in the plane of the cut, and means for shifting the pit in the lineof the cut.

9. In a fruit pitting apparatus, the combination of means for halving the fruit in the plane of the greatest diameter of the pit of the fruit, a curved pitting knife having its edges of rotation in the line of the cut, and

means adapted to enter the cut of the fruit permit the said knife means for rotating the said knife, and means in the plane of the cut for shifting the pit during the rotation of the said knife to permit the knife to pass around the pit.

11'. -In a fruit pitter, means for cleaving the flesh of the fruit, a rotary pitting knife, means for rotating the-said rotary pitting knife,'and means positioned in the plane of the cut in the flesh of the fruit to engage and shift the pit during the rotation of the said pitting knife.

l as

ported, a rotar 12. In a fruit pitter, means for halving the flesh of the fruit, a curved pitting knife having a cutting diameter greater than the thickness -of the' pit but less than thewidth of the pit, and means adapted to engage the pit for determining the width of the cut formed by the ysaid cutting means in accordance with the width of the pit.

13. In a vfruit pitter, means for halving the flesh 0f the fruit, means for engaging and holding the fruit, a rotary pitting knife, means for rotating the knife, and means' adapted to engage the'fruit pit to shift the said pit, fruit, and fruit holding means during the rotation of the said pitting knife.

14. In a fruit pitting machine, t-hecombi'- nation of impaling means, pitting means having a cutting edge, means for engaging and holding the fruit, means for actuating the said engaging and holding means, means for engaging and shifting the pit of the fruit, and a lost motion connection between the vsaid holding and engaging actpating means and the means for actuating the said engaging means. 15. Ina fruit pitting machine, the combination of impaling means having a pit receiving recess, a curved pitting knife mounted within the said recess, means for driving the pitt-ing knife from its opposite ends, and

means for actuating opposed portions of the impaling means for shiftin the pit of the fruit during the rotation o the said knife.

16. In a fruit pitting device, the combinationv of an impaling blade having a slot formed therein, the said slotterminating in a pit receiving recess, means mounted in the pit receiving recess for pitting the fruit, means for closing the said slot, and means for. shifting the pit from its opposite sides during the rotation of the said knife.

17. A fruit pitting apparatus comprising a slotted impaling blade, one side portion of the said impaling blade being movably suppitting knife,and means for moving the si e ortion of the said impaling blade in pre etermined relationA tothe rotation of the said pittin knife to, shift the^v fruit pit before rotation o? thl pitting knife.

18. A fruit pitting apparatus comprising and impaling member having opposed movable portions, pitting means, means for actuating the said pitting means, means for actu# ating pit to shift the pit clear of the path of the pitting means during the first half of the cycle of actuation ofthe pitting means, and-means v for actuating the other of said portions of the impaling blade to shift t pit'clear of the vpitting means during the second half of `the cycle of actuation of thepitting knife.`

19. A fruit itter comprising a bifurcated impaling mem er, the bifurcation terminating in a pit receiving recess, an operating handle, a fruit holding cup operated by said knife rotating means in timed relation with element of said knife rotating means in timed relation to shift the fruit pit in advance of V j shaft journalled in bearings su ported by `to the shafts, means for rotating the shaft one of said portions to engage the fruit' L,

means for cutting the fruit pit fromthe flesh of the fruit, means for shifting member, a curvedA pitting knife, means for.

rotating the curved pitting knife means `operably connecting the pitting knife with said handle, means forshifting'the fruit during the rotation of the pitting knife, and means for drivin the shifting means from the the rotation of the knife.

20. A fruitspitting machinecomprising a base, a bifurcated impaling member having a pit receiving recess, a curved rotary pitting knife mounted in said recess, means for rotating said knife from the opposite ends thereof, means for shifting the fruit pit during the rotation of said pitting means, and

means for actuating said shifting from one the said knife.

21. In a fruit pittin machine, the comhina-tion of a base, a ifurcated vimpaling blade supported by said base, an operating said base, a curved .pitting kni e .mounted in said base, gear segments journalled on said shaft, means for actuating the said gear segments after predetermined rotation of the shaft, pinions meshing with said gearfseg- `ments for rotating the said curved knife from its o posite ends, a movable impaling blade portion, and cam means carried by one of the segments for actuating the said impaling blade portion.'

22. In a fruit pitting machine, the-combination of a bifurcated,impalingblade havin a pit receiving Vknife mounted 1n said recess, the said pitting knife having shafts at its opposite ends, bean ings supporting said shafts, pinions secured pinions, a movable impaling blade portion, and means connected with said pinion ac tuating means for actuating said impaling blade portion in timed relation with the rol tation of said curved knife.

23. In a ,fruit pitter, the combination of means for halving the flesh of the fruit,

means for severing thefruit pit from the liesh of the fruit, meansifor yieldably hold-v ing the fruit during the pitting operation, and means for shifting the fruit pit during the pitting operation. C t.

24. In a fruit pitter, the combination of meansA having a slot therein for" artiall halving the flesh of the fruit, means or yiel l ably holding the fruit on the halving means,

thefruit during theactuation o means, and means ada closin vthe slot forme lin, the halvin means.

25. n a fruit. pitting; machine, t e v,comi bination of means for severing the flesh of the fruit to ygain accessV to the fruit pit, curved recess, a curved 'pitting p the pit ofv the pitting ted to be actuated for with the knife rotating means,

rotary pitting means, means for completing the severing of the fruit in the lin'e of the .first cut to halve the flesh of the fruit, means for holding the halved fruit on said severing means, means for rotating the curved pitting means, and means for shifting the fruit pit alternately in the line of the cut in advance of the said curved pitting means.

26. In a fruit pitting machine, the combination of means for impaling the flesh of the fruit, curved rotary pitting means hav-` ing a cutting diameter greater than the thickness of the fruit pit but less than the Width thereof, means for rotating the curved pitting means, yieldable means for holding the impaled frult, means for shifting the fruit pit during the pitting operation, and a single operating handle for operating the holding means, pitting means and shifting means.

27. A fruit pitter comprising an impaling blade, a. rotary pitting knife, means for rotating said pitting knife, the impaling blade having a movable' portion, an arc segment, means connecting the arc segment with an o erating handle, means .connecting the handlfe and timing means between the arc segment and the movable impaling blade portion.

28. A fruit pitter comprising means for halving the flesh of the fruit, a rotary pitting knife having a cutting radius ada ted to roduce a cut in the fruit flesh the epth o the cut being determined by the width of the pit, mea-ns for rotating the knife, and means for intermittently shifting the pit in opposed directions during the rotation of the pitting knife to permit the knife to pass around the pit.v

29. In a fruit pitting apparatus, the combination of means for halving the fruit in the plane of the greatest diameter of the pit o f the fruit, a rotary pitting knife having its axis in the plane of the cut, and means for shifting the pit from its opposite sides to move the fins of the pit Within the cutting diameter of the pitting knife.

30. In a fruit pitter, the. combination of impaling means, a rotar pittingknifehaving a cutting edge, means or yieldably holding the fruit on the impaling means, means for actuating the pitting means, and means for reciprocating the fruit pit in advance of the cutting edge during the actuation of the pitting means.

3l. In a fruit pitting device, the combinaf tion of impaling means having a slot formed therein, the said slot terminating in a pit receiving recess, pitting means mounted to rotate through said slot and providing a cutting edge, means for engaging and holding the fruit on the impaling means, means for closing the slot, and means for shifting the pit -from its oppositeI sides during the rotation of the itting knife.

32. fruit pitter comprising an impaling member upon which the fruit is adapted to .and shift the p1t of the fruit.

33. A fruit pitter comprising an impaling member upon which the fruit is impaled to sever the fiesh of the fruit, the impaling member having opposed movable members, and means for moving the said members alternately in the plane of the impaling member to engage and shift the pit of the impaled fruit.

34. A fruit pitter comprising an impaling member upon which the fruit is impaled to sever the iiesh of the fruit, the impaling member having opposed movable members, a pitting knife, means for actuating the pitting knife, and'means to move the movable members of the impaling blade in the plane of the impaling blade in tlmed relation to the actuation of the pitting knife.

35. A fruit pitting apparatus com rising an impaling member upon which the ruit is impaled to sever the flesh of the fruit, the impaling member having op osed movable portions, a rotary pitting kni e, means for rotating the pitting knife, and means to move the movable portions alternately in predetero mined relation to the rotation of the pitting knife. l

ISigned at Los Angeles, California, this 13th day of October, 1926.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON. 

